Winter weather makes its return come Saturday

AccuWeather reports following record-challenging warmth across the Northeast today, winter's chill will return for the weekend along with gusty winds.

In the meantime, temperatures this afternoon will again rise to levels more typical for April than mid-February. Highs in the 60s and 70s will stretch from the Carolinas north to southern New England.

Clouds and some showers will keep northern New England cooler by comparison, but still milder than normal for this time of year, helping to drive snowmelt.

On Thursday, the warmth toppled record highs all across the Plains and Midwest. Even a few records fell in the mid-Atlantic states.

More record highs are in jeopardy today along the I-95 corridor with some of the records dating back more than 100 years as first reported by AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Heather Buchman:

• Charlotte, N.C. (78° from 1891)

• Raleigh, N.C. (75° from 1948)

• Washington, D.C. (Reagan National Airport) (76° from 1976)

• Philadelphia, Pa. (69° from 1991)

• Trenton, N.J. (68° from 2008)

• New York City (Central Park) (68° from 1981)

For those enjoying the beginning of a three-day weekend, or perhaps an impromptu day off, such temperatures will be more suitable for t-shirts rather than winter jackets.

However, jackets should remain within reach as a cold front sweeping through the Northeast early tonight will knock temperatures back to reality for the weekend.

Temperatures will plunge into the 30s and 40s behind the front Saturday and Sunday north of the Mason-Dixon Line. Farther south, the thermometer will register a few degrees cooler, but it will remain quite comfortable.

Most noticeable will be the gusty winds, in excess of 45 mph at times tonight and Saturday, helping to drop the AccuWeather RealFeel® temperatures well below the actual thermometer reading.

The winds could be strong enough to bring down tree limbs, resulting in power outages. If you have any loose objects outdoors, be sure to secure them or bring them inside.

Travelers in high-profile, or tall vehicles such as vans or trucks will want to exercise caution when turning and driving through areas where the wind may higher due to channeling.

Additionally, the chilly winds will help generate snow showers from western Maine to western Pennsylvania, most significant downwind of Lake Ontario in upstate New York.